Group to Sue US to Force Gray Wolf Protection

Group to Sue US to Force Gray Wolf Protection

by

This undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a gray wolf. An environmental group has filed notice that it will sue the federal government to force it to adopt a plan for the recovery of gray wolves across the lower 48 states. Biologists with the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010 they want to expand that recovery nationwide. (AP Photo/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,file)

An environmental group is planning to sue the U.S. government to force a recovery plan for gray wolves throughout the United States.

The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity filed notice Tuesday of its intent to sue the Department of Interior within 60 days if the agency doesn't start planning to expand wolf ranges in the lower 48 states. It said suitable habitats exist in in the Pacific Northwest, California, Great Basin, southern Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and New England.

"Wolves are an integral part of this country's natural history and need a national recovery plan now," said Noah Greenwald, the center's endangered species director, in a statement. "Although wolves have made important strides toward recovery in parts of the northern Rockies and Great Lakes, these areas represent less than 5 percent of their historic range."

Gray wolves, once nearly hunted and poisoned into extermination, were added to the Endangered Species Act in 1973. They cannot be hunted in the lower 48 states. In recent years, some states have demanded their federal protections be lifted, but the center and other conservation groups have successfully sued to prevent that.

The center's announcement said wolves benefit prey populations by culling sick animals and preventing overpopulation. It said wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park helped pronghorn and foxes by controlling coyote populations and benefited songbirds and beavers by dispersing elk and allowing recovery of stream side vegetation.

Further

Lord, what would John Lennon have made of the Trump monster? Marking Thursday's 36th anniversary of Lennon's murder, Yoko Ono posted a plea for gun control, calling his death "a hollowing experience" and pleading, "Together, let's bring back America, the green land of Peace." With so many seeking solace in these ugly times, mourns one fan, "Oh John, you really should be here." Lennon conceded then, and likely would now, "Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."